This Mr. Boffo cartoon implies there's something wrong about an Inuit (Eskimo) snowhouse (igloo). Actually, these structures are perfectly adapted to their environment. A skilled Inuit can build one in an hour or two. And, contrary to what the caption implies, they're much warmer inside than the temperature is outside.

The underlying stereotype is that Native people were too stupid or ignorant to build any "real" architecture. But a survey of today's Arctic wilderness reveals no skyscrapers showcasing Western architecture. The obvious conclusion is that the Inuit built the most suitable structures for the environment.

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